Israel-based OptiTex Ltd. — a developer of 2-D and 3-D computer-aided design and manufacturing
solutions for the apparel, industrial fabrics, upholstery, automotive and aeronautics industries —
has partnered with global software development company Robert McNeel & Associates (McNeel) to
offer manufacturers and retailers a solution that is expected to increase productivity, shorten
time to market and improve quality and fit.

The partnership couples OptiTex’s flattening algorithms, technical pattern-making
capabilities and 3-D physical simulation with McNeel’s rapid prototyping and 3-D modeling
capabilities to create a solution that digitally connects design and prototyping divisions with the
relevant visualization, pattern making and production floors departments. The solution will replace
physical samples with multiple, customizable virtual prototypes.

“The partnership enhances OptiTex’s offering to our target markets, proving once again that
by working with other like-minded companies, OptiTex can bring worthwhile technology to the
apparel, automotive, aeronautics, industrial fabrics and upholstery industries,” said Sagi Shani,
chief technology officer, OptiTex. “OptiTex is most successful when we act as trusted advisors to
our customers, working closely with them to shape emerging technologies into productive and
profitable tools.”

McNeel has more than 700 resellers, distributors, original equipment manufacturers and
training centers globally; as well as offices in the United States, Argentina, Europe and Asia. Its
main product is Rhinoceros®, a 3-D Windows®-based modeling software tool for designers.

June 12, 2012

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — June 5, 2012 — The winners of the 2012 AATCC Concept 2 Consumer®
(C2C) Design Competition for college students have been chosen. The first place winner is Leah
Becker, a junior at University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Becker was awarded US$1,000 and a copy of Pantone’s Cotton Planner. She also won high marks
from the judges for selection of base and accent colors and for creating a design that addresses
consumer fit, comfort, and style preferences for the target audience specified in the 2012 contest
criteria.

To date, AATCC has awarded over US$12,000 to promising fashion and textile program students
participating in the association’s annual C2C design competition.

The 2012 contest was open to both graduate and undergraduate students. AATCC received 34
entries from 13 colleges and universities.  The other winners are: 

2nd Place: 

Minerva by Elizabeth Keebler, Stephens College, in Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.

Honorable Mentions: 

Fine Feathers by Carrie Cook, Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.A., and
Madam Mallard by Wynn Farley, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

For this year’s competition, the contestants were challenged with creating original active
wear for a female customer, age 50-65, for her daily walking routine. The theme was “Birds of a
Feather Walk Together,” and students were asked to include a combination of nine colors and
incorporate a bird element in at least one design.

Becker said the contest gave her a new perspective on color and reaffirmed that she’s on the
right career track.

“The most important thing I learned from the contest was the use of color,” Becker said.
“Prior to the competition I used more neutral color schemes for my designs. By having color
requirements, I discovered my interest in combining color through designing patterns and
prints.”  

The Concept 2 Consumer® Design Competition encourages students to design prints and products
to “real-world” specifications and is open to individuals or teams of up to four. Each year
students are given a design theme, and color and theme guidelines.  Prizes include first place
cash award of US$1,000 along with a copy of Pantone’s Cotton Planner, a US$750 award for second
place, and two US$100 awards for honorable mentions.  

AATCC would like to extend its appreciation to this year’s judging panel, which includes:

Carlos Vazquez, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM),
Instructor, Mentor for the
Debut 3rd, Designer.

Carrie Yates, Cotton Incorporated, Manager, Product Development.

Deborah Young, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), Assistant
Chair, Textile Science.

Diana Wyman, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Product Research & Testing
Analyst.

Kristie Rhodes, Cotton Incorporated, Textile Designer.

Rachel Asimakopoulos, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Design Manager, Women’s
Sportswear/Women’s Yoga/Children’s Wear.



Posted on June 12, 2012

Source: AATCC

Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG — a developer and manufacturer of stretch woven functional
fabrics and smart textile technologies for activewear, workwear and lifestyle apparel applications
— has acquired Christian Eschler AG — a Switzerland-based manufacturer of functional knitted
fabrics for sports, including high-performance Alpine sports; as well as workwear, technical
textiles and lingerie applications.

According to the companies, which as separate family-owned enterprises have long worked
together, the merger will broaden the offerings available to joint customers. In addition,
Eschler’s knitting expertise is expected to provide important synergies for innovations developed
within Schoeller’s recently established venture, Schoeller Medical AG, whose first commercial
product line is the functionMED™ range of fashionable, comfortable women’s and men’s incontinence
underwear.

Speaking about the merger, Schoeller Textil Board of Administration President Franz Albers
stated, “It is the coming together of two companies, each of which is among the world-wide market
leaders in its own segment and ideally complements one another.”

Eschler Group Board of Administration President Hansjörg Rettenmund concurred, calling the
cooperation “a far-sighted business move which will secure the future and which represents a
logical consequence in terms of market positioning.”

The Eschler brand will continue to be offered as an independent brand. Schoeller will base
its sports apparel sales organization, including 45 employees, in Eschler Group’s headquarters in
Bühler, Switzerland. Former Managing Director Matthias Eschler, will continue to lead activities at
the Eschler Textil GmbH plant in Balingen, Germany, overseeing an expansion of Eschler’s Technical
Textiles division as well as the manufacture of high-tech knit fabrics to be offered under the
Schoeller brand for commercial and professional sports apparel.

The development team at Eschler’s technology and innovation center, which opened in Bühler
last year as part of a group restructuring, is now located in Schoeller’s Sevelen, Switzerland,
facility. Developments will also be carried out in Schoeller’s laboratory in Gams, Switzerland,
which provides facilities for chemical analysis and microbiological studies.

The Sevelen facility also will feature a new, state-of-the-art automated washing system for
stretch wovens and knits. Production of both wovens and knits will continue to comply with the
bluesign® ecological standard for textiles.

June 5, 2012

Cary, N.C.-based Cotton Incorporated — a research and marketing company representing upland cotton
— and DuPont Industrial Biosciences — a business unit of Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont —
recently reported the results of a joint trial in which they evaluated the effectiveness of
biobased enzymes in preparing cotton knit textiles, compared to that of traditional processing
chemicals. The trials showed that a combination of biobased enzymes can replace caustic chemicals
in cotton textile processing, while at the same time reducing water and energy consumption and
processing time.

“Bio-enzymes, such as our PrimaGreen® products, have for some time offered a sustainable
alternative to chemicals typically used in textile preparation,” said Nico van Schoot, marketing
manager, DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “As these trial results illustrate, bio-enzymes also can
provide practical business advantages in terms of processing time and associated costs.”

On average, reductions included 70 percent of water, 33 percent of steam, and 27 percent of
energy across all shade ranges. Cost reductions using the bio-optimized process averaged 66
percent. Time savings included 23 percent for dark shades, 27 percent for medium shades and 30
percent for light shades.

Used in combination, bio-enzymes for scouring, bleaching and dyeing reduce water usage
because the same water bath can be used for more than one process, noted trial supervisor Mary
Ankeny, director of dyeing research, Cotton Incorporated. Energy reductions stem from the fact that
textiles can be prepared at significantly reduced temperatures when bio-enzymes are used in an
optimized process compared to using traditional chemicals in traditional processes.

June 5, 2012

After posting the thoughts of Heinrich Trützschler, managing partner of Germany-based Trützschler
GmbH & Co. KG
(see ”
The
Rupp Report: Executive Interview: Heinrich Trützschler, Managing Partner, Trützschler GmbH &
Co. KG,”
TextileWorld.com, May 29, 2012), the Rupp Report talked to Carlo Rogora, CEO
of Itema (Switzerland) Ltd., one of the leading weaving machinery manufacturers. Rogora answered
the same questions asked previously.

Expectations


Rupp Report
: What do you expect from 2012 in general?




Carlo Rogora
: In general, we expect to be in a somewhat better situation than in 2011. The second half of
2012 is still uncertain due to the tight policies of some countries, mainly in Asia. Several
projects are in the pipeline, but it seems that because of government policies and/or because of
the banks’ difficulties in lending money, these projects remain in the pipeline. However, we are
rather optimistic that this will change in the months to come.

RR
: What is the biggest change you see in the business this year for your products prior to
ITMA Asia + CITME 2012?

Rogora
: We see a number of changes, which are, however, different from one country to another.
In China, for instance, we see more investments for air-jet weaving, even for products and
applications for which this technology was not considered before. On the other hand, customers in
some countries are switching the weft insertion system from air-jet to rapier.

RR
: What conditions are you experiencing that are most influencing your business?

Rogora
: As I mentioned before, the main problem remains the difficulties with the banks. If
they lend money, the interest rates are very high. Furthermore, the economy is still uncertain in
Europe and the USA. Therefore, the main market for fabrics is still not enjoying a satisfactory
level. Although it has improved, it surely is not at the levels of some years ago. I must say, we
doubt that level will ever come back.

Market Situation


RR
: How do you see the current market situation in Asia and China?

Rogora
: In some countries, like China, the cost of labor has increased and customers are either
putting investments on hold or even thinking of moving plants elsewhere. The higher costs of cotton
in China also have had an impact on slowing down investments.

RR
: So, do you face any problems in China?

Rogora
: Not really. Some areas of the business are very slow, some investments are completely on
hold, but some other new areas are shifting toward new investments thanks to a higher availability
of workforce.

RR
: Are the mills receptive to new technology, or are they on the sidelines?

Rogora
: You see, technology is always well-received wherever it gives more efficiency, lower cost
of maintenance and an improved user-friendliness. The strategy we adopted to invest in new, more
reliable, more efficient — in general, more “technological” — machines is still confirmed, and we
will carry on this way.

However, the pressure on the Asian mills’ production is still more oriented toward the final
retail prices than on the quality. Of course, it is more than obvious that our customers are
strongly focused on the price we offer. We offer our customers new technology and ideas to weave
different styles and to improve machine efficiency combined with cost competitiveness. We do
believe that this will favor industry growth in the near future, with the possibility also to offer
high-quality fabrics worldwide.

Different Customer Requirements


RR
: Is this different in the regions of the world?

Rogora
: Well, in Europe and the Americas, customers are more interested in new solutions and new
technologies; they are — and have to be — generally active in markets that require superior fabric
quality. This is their reason for being. It has to be said that also some countries in Asia such as
— of course — Japan, but also Taiwan and Korea, are doing the same. Some “advanced” customers in
China are switching to this requirement as well.

RR
: Is the green movement — sustainability — a reality for your customers?

Rogora
: Frankly speaking, we do not receive particular requests from our customers, especially
not from Asia. Nevertheless, Itema is very sensitive to eco-sustainability. We are actively
participating in the project promoted by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery
Manufacturers), to be the “Supplier of Sustainable Technologies.” This is focused on the
improvement of an “intelligent” use of energy, chemicals and water; and the minimization of the
carbon footprint of the fabric production cycle. For this, Itema received the Green Label, which
attests to our efforts in this area.

RR
: How are you helping your customers to address that?

Rogora
: We always push on this argument, because we believe that the future of our planet is the
responsibility of each one of us. We do hope and believe that eco-sustainability will become more
and more a need and a request by our industry.

New Machinery On Display


RR
: Will you show any true novelty for the first time in Asia?

Rogora
: Yes, there will be several improvements and new developments on the machines, both
those manufactured in Europe and machines assembled in China. Some of them will be very important
for the customers for cost savings in maintenance, ease of operations and better fabric quality. We
will show the Silver 501 rapier machine and the new air-jet, both of which were exhibited at ITMA
Barcelona for the first time.

The highlight will be the direct drive motor applicable to the locally assembled R880 (rapier
machine). This will now complete the wide range of applications and high profile of technology
offered by the machines assembled in China.

For the first time, with the T880, we will have the locally assembled rapier weaving machine
for terry in the booth of local Jacquard machinery manufacturer Song & Song. All products
delivered by Itema China have a relevant percentage of parts that are imported from Europe to
assure quality and high performances of each machine we deliver.

Product
Piracy


RR
: Did you face any problems with product piracy at the last ITMA Asia + CITME?

Rogora
: The product piracy, especially on spare parts, and especially in Asia, is massive. As
mentioned above, our customers are under very high pressure to cut costs in order to compete in the
current marketplace. Over a period of time, this is reducing the performance, in both quality and
efficiency of their machines. As the quality requirements of the fabrics produced and the
manufacturing costs in these countries increases — and they will — we believe that this phenomenon
will decrease. Would you use pirated spare parts on a Ferrari Formula 1 car that has to compete in
a Grand Prix? We don’t think so.

RR
: How do you face this problem?

Rogora
: ITEMA is focused on giving to the customers what they need. As their need is to reduce the
cost of maintenance, we develop and deliver machines that have fewer parts and are more reliable.
This is the solution that can provide our customers with top- and stable-performance machines, and
reduce the spare-parts costs.

RR
: Has the outcome of your action been successful?

Rogora
: We are marketing this new approach along with the newly reengineered machines such as
the Silver 501 and A9000/A9500. We do believe that the customers will recognize the value of the
new design, and that the products will be successful.

RR
: What do you do if you are faced with product piracy again in Shanghai?

Rogora
: Itema thinks that nothing really can be done. As long as the customers do not perceive the
value of a manufacturer’s original spare parts, this market will continue. The rules are made by
the market, not by the producers.

RR
: The organizers of ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 declared in a recent Rupp Report that they are
committed to fight against any product piracy (See ”
The
Rupp Report: Successful ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 Anticipated,”
TextileWorld.com, April 17, 2012). Do you think they will be successful?

Rogora
: I think that everybody should focus on the piracy of patented products or parts. This is
something that the governments have to focus on. The breaching of a patent is a legal violation —
which results in fines and very severe consequences everywhere in the world. Violation is not fair
and should not be permitted, and I think that the organizers should concentrate on putting more and
more pressure on the local governments in order to change this reality.

Itema will be exhibiting at ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 in Hall E4, Booth C10.

June 5, 2012

Germany-based textile machinery manufacturer Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH now offers a
third generation of its HKS 3-M three-bar tricot knitting machine, reporting that the new design
enables 15-percent higher speeds than the previous generation, while also being more compact in its
construction.

The company has completely redesigned the machine’s knitting motion, machine frame and beam
let-off frame. In addition, the new design includes improved access to the warp beam rollers on the
right-hand side of the machine.

Currently, the new version offers a 210-inch working width and E 28 and E 32 gauges.
Additional widths and gauges will be made available in the future.

Karl Mayer notes that the design and movement of the HKS 3-M’s knitting elements allows it
flexibility to work a wide array of stitch densities and lappings and to process all yarn types
that are used in warp-knit applications. Fabrics that can be produced range from tulle and net
curtain and lingerie fabrics to sportswear and dense upholstery fabrics and also including
semi-technical fabrics such as mosquito netting, shoe fabrics and other such fabrics.

June 5, 2012

Jeanologia — a Spain-based developer of technologies for washing, dyeing and finishing textiles,
particularly jeans — has introduced two tools to encourage sustainability in the textile industry.

Environmental Impact Measuring (EIM) software allows professionals in laundries and the
garment finishing industry to assess the environmental impact of a garment finishing process. The
software analyzes a garment finishing process’s environmental impact in the individual categories
of water consumption, chemical product use, energy consumption and worker health, as well as the
impact of the total process. The tool also enables users to compare the environmental impact of
various finishing processes.

The Eco-Clock gives real-time information on water, energy and chemical consumption in the
denim finishing process. It compares the results of conventional processes with that of
Jeanologia’s processes and calculates the total savings that can be realized by using Jeanologia’s
processes.

June 5, 2012

Datatex — an Italy-based provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for textile and
apparel applications — reports AC Carpi Apparel Co. Ltd. — a China- and Hong Kong-based vertically
integrated manufacturer of knitted apparel using Italy-based Santoni S.p.A.’s circular seamless
knitting technology — has selected the Datatex NOW Web-based ERP solution. Chemtax Ltd., Datatex’s
partner in China, implemented the software.

NOW ERP offers sales management; planning and machine scheduling; production management
including seamless knitting, garment dyeing and finishing; shop floor data collection; purchasing
control; inventory management; and product standard costing and analysis.

“We are very satisfied with the efficiency of the Datatex implementation,” said AC Carpi
owner Amy Chu. “This ERP provides us with an in depth view of the whole business performance and
ensures we maximize our potential. We can accurately monitor all sales orders and plan the most
efficient production measures in order to satisfy ever changing business demands.”

June 5, 2012